Opinion
Minister Of State, FCT And Satellite Towns Infrastructure Development
Abuja is the capital city of Nigeria and one of the eight most populous cities in the country.
Located in the center of Nigeria, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, is a city built in the 1980s based on a Masterplan by a Japanese architect, Kenzo Tange.
Abuja replaced Lagos, Nigeria’s most populous city as the capital on Dec. 12, 1991.
Though development of the city is still in progress after more than three decades, the indigenous communities and the city’s poor believe that Abuja was designed for only the rich, insisting that the masterplan has no place for the masses.
Some low income earners describe Abuja as a rich man’s capital with no consideration for the poor who provide services for the affluent.
They have constantly accused the authorities of failure to provide social amenities or basic infrastructure in the satellite towns.
This class of people also argue that the creation of illegal settlements and influx into the city, which usually leads to the distortion of the masterplan, is as a result of neglect by the authorities to place some priority on satellite towns.
Most times Abuja residents struggle to put up structures, thereby infringing on sewage lines, electricity lines or on designated green areas.
In some cases, they even occupy construction sites, for easy access to social amenities which are only working in the city center.
This frequent violation of the masterplan by illegal occupants usually results in waste of resources by both the citizens and the authorities because the demolition of illegal settlements in order to restore sanity, is depleting the meager resources in government treasury that would have been channelled to other urgent needs.
This was the real story of
Abuja prior to the appointment of Dr Ramatu Tijja Aliyu as the Honourable Minister of State FCT, by President Muhammadu Buhari.
On assuming office on Aug. 21, 2019, Aliyu hit the ground running with the aim of providing solutions, especially in the area of giving priority to infrastructure in order to decongest the city center by making it less attractive.
It may interest readers to know that though the minister hails from Lokoja, Kogi State, she was born in Abuja and have been a residents since birth in 1970.
She’s familiar with the challenges and many pains of Abuja residents, especially
the indigenous communities and the satellite towns dwellers.
As a professional urban planner, Aliyu is passionate about the development of the town and well equipped with the skills required to oversee the affairs of FCT Abuja successfully.
She left no stone on turned when she embarked on aggressive development of satellite towns by providing basic infrastructure through the Satellite Town Development Department (STDD), of the FCT Administration (FCTA), a unit under her office.
Aliyu no doubt understands the cultural diversity of Abuja, and so is always in the forefront of bringing succour to the less privilege and uniting all ethnic groups for harmonious living, which earned her the traditional title of Maman palliative (Mother of palliative ), by the locals.
She also understood and recognised the importance of local governments as the catalyst for grassroot and rural development in Nigeria, and so worked very hard to secure approval for the upward review of the Area Councils’ monthly subvention from N100million to N350million.
”’The honourable minister, through the STDD, is doing so much in the rural communities that a lot of people are not even aware of.
”So far more than 150 projects ranging from construction of roads, drainage, installation of street lights and safe water, are spread across the six area councils of the FCT, 13 of these projects have been successfully executed and completed 100 per cent,” an official of the FCTA said.
Some of her priorities project in the satellite towns include the Apo-Karshi road, Wasa affordable housing, Nyanya Gbagalape road, fruit market road zuba, Abaji-Rubochi road, Kuchiako road Kuje, Rehabilitation of Bwari Law School Road through Kuchiko from FCT Boundary to Ijah (Bwari-Ijah) among others
From the foregoing there is no doubt that Dr Ramatu Tijjani Aliyu has demonstrated the capacity to deliver on her mandate in FCT and should therefore, be encouraged to do more.
Jagindi, Chief Executive Officer of Aluta Media Limited, Publishers of Aluta News writes from Abuja via jagindi2016@gmail.com 07065466654
Heineken Lokpobiri, minister of state for petroleum resources, says the federal government plans to commence implementing the drill-or-drop provisions of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA).
Section 94 of the PIA gives operators a period of three years to begin oil production or relinquish the assets to the federal government.
Speaking during the Cross Industry Group (CIG) meeting held on Tuesday in Florence, Italy, Lokpobiri said it is in the best interest of the country that all inactive wells go to work.
He said the federal government, under the leadership of President Bola Tinubu, has provided every necessary incentive to ensure international oil companies (IOCs) in Nigeria run smoothly and profitably.
“Now, it is imperative for these industry players to match the government’s efforts with increased investment by announcing final investment decisions (FIDs),” he said.
Furthermore, Lokpobiri discussed “the challenges, expectations, and measures to enhance the sector’s contributions towards domestic energy needs and regional expansion across Sub-Saharan Africa”.
He emphasised that while IOCs have highlighted engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) contractors as a challenge, “EPCs will not come unless they see strong commitments from industry players”.
“The government has done its part to provide the requisite and investment-friendly fiscals, the ball is now in the court of the IOCs and other operators to make strategic investment decisions that will drive increased production and sustainability in the sector,” he said.
“We must also recognise that domestic crude supply is essential to national energy security. The best solution to this challenge lies in increasing production, which will ensure a balance between domestic supply obligations and external commitments.”
The minister further urged industry players to explore collaborative measures, such as shared resources for contiguous assets and the release of underutilised assets to operators ready to invest in production.
The Progressive Students Movement (PSM), a leading Pan-African student body, has commended the leadership of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) in Ogun State under Commissioner of Police (CP) Lanre Ogunlowo, PhD, for its commitment to security and community engagement.
In a statement released on Thursday, the President of PSM Nigeria, Comrade Ambassador Okereafor Bestman, highlighted the CP’s efforts in strengthening collaboration between the police, stakeholders, and other security agencies to maintain peace and stability in the state.
“It is worthy of note that CP Lanre Ogunlowo, PhD, has further fostered a harmonious working synergy between the police, stakeholders, and other security agents aimed at ensuring peace and tranquility in Ogun State,” Okereafor said.
The student leader expressed confidence in CP Ogunlowo’s leadership, stating that Ogun State is on track to becoming one of the most peaceful states in Nigeria under his administration.
He also praised the professionalism and dedication of the Ogun State Police Command in tackling crime, regardless of its scale.
Additionally, PSM acknowledged the Ogun State government’s continued support for security agencies, particularly in providing mobility and logistics to enhance their operational efficiency.
The commendation comes at a time when security remains a top priority for residents and authorities in the state, with ongoing efforts to curb crime and ensure public safety.
BY ABUBAKAR YUSUF
On assumption of duty in January, 2025 , the new Universal Basic Education Commission, UBEC, Boss and well grounded World Bank expert , Aisha Garba envisaged the need to reposition the Basic Education through interfacing with the critical stakeholders.
Amongst them is the office of the National Security Adviser , NSA, led by Malam Nuhu Ribadu whose achievements in the last few years in the area of security has become distinct and outstanding.
Therefore, seeking to cooperate and collaborate with the office became germane and needful particularly the protection of lives and properties of actors in the promotion of Basic Education ranging from the pupils , teachers , workers and facilitators to enable it drive the new wave to curb Out of School Children OOSC in the country.
Aside providing the basic security arrangements for schools , the need to engage the security apparatus at the level of National Security Adviser NSA became needful, so as to address the sophistry of security problems in the country, to nip in the bud any unforseen circumstances.
With the high rates of kidnappings, abduction , banditry, cattle rustling, ritual tendencies among many other vices, the idea of bringing on board , the security architecture of the country in all ramifications will assist the commission to consolidate the implementation of Basic Education policies and programs, also introduce new ones .
Since pupils at the Primary, Junior Secondary and Secondary Schools are prone to such ugly development and security issues , the need to be proactive on the part of the commission became timely and desiring.
This led to the success story of the bilateral interface between the management of the commission and NSA, to streamline, perfect and chart a new course on the issue of security of actors in the Basic Education.
The visit described as timely and long overdue, discussed fruitfully the way forward and the immediate and long term intervention of both agencies in the area of collaboration.
According to the Executive Secretary, Universal Basic Education Commission UBEC, Dr Aisha Garba she stated by discussing” strategic initiatives aimed at enhancing educational access and security in Nigeria. ”
She further said” the engagement focused on strategies to address challenges such as the safety of schools, particularly in vulnerable regions, and the promotion of equitable education for all children.”
“the meeting highlighted the critical intersection between education and national security and the need for collaboration between UBEC and Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), on improving access to basic education and safety of safety schools across the nation. ”
“This collaboration underscores the government’s commitment to fostering a secure and inclusive learning environment as part of its broader agenda to strengthen the nation’s educational framework,” it added.
“UBEC boss had pledged to engage critical stakeholders to break down barriers to education and create inclusive learning opportunities for children across the six geopolitical regions of the country.”
“She said: “My goal is to deliver on this mandate which includes strengthening collaboration, partnerships and institutional learning for effective service delivery. ”
“Together, we will work to increase access, improve quality, provide conducive and safe learning environments, supply adequate teaching and learning materials, and adopt the concept of ‘best fit’ in addressing specific basic education challenges, state by state and region by region”.
Highlights of the program which included the engagement of both bodies with a commitment to ensure the introduction of security architecture in schools in Nigeria is achievable.
Written BY ABUBAKAR YUSUF on yus.abubakar3@gmail.com.